US ladies open 4 Nations protection with 5-1 win over Finland

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (AP) — Brianna Decker, Hilary Knight and Dani Cameranesi every had a purpose and an help to assist the U.S. ladies’s hockey crew beat Finland 5-1 on Tuesday to open its protection of the 4 Nations Cup.

It was the primary sport for the Individuals since topping Canada 3-2 in a shootout to win Olympic gold in February. The U.S. had misplaced in 4 straight gold medal video games towards Canada since profitable the primary Olympic ladies’s hockey match in 1998.

Decker claims she hasn’t skilled the standard post-Olympic hangover, largely as a result of the will for extra worldwide success stored her motivated.

“It took us 20 years to lastly attain that second and really feel that manner,” the 27-year-old mentioned. “There was a degree in the summertime the place, it wasn’t a letdown, it was ‘Hey, it is time to go, ramp it again up, prep for the season and be able to go come fall.

“They all the time say when you’re on prime, it is tougher to defend than it’s to get to the highest.”

Sarah Brodt and Cayla Barnes additionally scored for the U.S., and Maddie Rooney made 9 saves. Rooney was the profitable goaltender within the Olympic closing in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Trailing 1-Zero regardless of outshooting the Finns 9-Three within the first interval, the U.S. scored 5 unanswered targets within the second, beginning with Decker’s simply 10 seconds in.

“This was a great first sport for us,” defender Kacey Bellamy mentioned. “I feel the primary interval was just a little sloppy, however we’re getting used to new techniques and taking part in with a brand new group of gamers. I feel we settled in coming into the second interval and third.”

The U.S. has received the 4 Nations match three straight years. This 12 months’s roster options 16 members of the 2018 Olympic crew.

Host Canada was to face Sweden later Tuesday within the tournament-opener for each nations.